New local laws map helps drones take flight

29 February 2024

Drone operators and the community now have access to a digital map that show local restrictions that may be in place for flying drones in their area.

The first release of the map shows rules for 7,610 different areas managed by 15 different agencies, with more to be digitised in the future.

For example, the map shows drone laws around parks and correctional facilities across Australia that have restrictions.

The map can be integrated into drone software applications to help with flight planning, thanks to open data and a free application programming interface.

With recreational and commercial drone flights rapidly increasing, a free digital and geospatial map of local laws will help increase awareness of and compliance with drone laws.

The department will continue working with relevant agencies to collect and improve the data, review and evaluate the impact of current rules, and share lessons learned to bolster regulatory policy, compliance and enforcement of drone laws in the future.

This collaboration across all levels of government is recognised in the Australian Government’s Data and Digital Government Strategy, contributing to simple, secure and connected public services.

The department welcomes your feedback to help improve the functionality of the map. To view the map and provide your feedback, visit www.drones.gov.au/policies-and-programs/initiatives/drone-rule-digitisation.